Cover and protector for shades



v S p 2 1931- D. w. CAUSEY ,3

COVER AND PROTECTOR FOR SHADES Filed Oct. 2, 1930 I IIFFIIIV mm Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES DANIEL W. CAUSEY, 0F NORFOLK, VIRGINIA COVERYAND rnornc'roa FOR SHADES Application filed October 2, 1930. Serial No. 486,016.

This invention relates to window shades, and more particularly to a novel improvement in covers or protectors therefor which not only prevent the soiling of the shade but US also guide the same on the roller during its movement.

To that end the invention contemplates a novel device in the form of a combined protector and guide which is supplied entirely 19 by the shade roller without the necessity of using any fastenings or other means of support for maintaining the device in position. It is well known that roller shades usually become soiled with transverse streaks at points where the shade leaves the roller. That is to say, if a shade is usually left at half sash, the portion of the shade on the top of the roller will become soiled by the settlement of dust on the top of the roller. Then too, if the shade is pulled to a position at either side of the position at which it has been standing and left for any period of time, another soiled streak will. develop. This soiling of shades has long been a source of annoyance and inconvenience and while it has been proposed to provide covers, nevertheless such covers in the past have been of the type which were either supported by the curtain roller brackets or secured to the window frame and arranged in overlying or protecting relation to the portion of the shade wound around the roller. The use of de vices of this type however, either requires the use of special fastenings if the device is supported on the window frame or special forms of brackets for the device if carried by the roller supporting brackets.

Accordingly, the present invention has primarily in view the provision of a pro tecting device which is mounted directly on the portion of the roller carrying the shade and within which the shade freely slides. In other Words, the present invention contemplates a floating shade protector which may be readily and conveniently applied to any shade in a simple and expeditious manner and can likewise be easily removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which includes the additional feature of providing means for guiding the shade in its movement so that it will always run true when pulled up or down, thus avoiding fraying of the edges of the shade by engaging with the roller supporting brackets which frequently happens when the shade is pulled out of line.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a shade having the present device applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one end of the unit or device.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the clip for uniting the retaining members of the device.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the retaining members.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation showing the present device equipped with an ornamental fringe which serves as a dust wiper or cleaner.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the present device, designated generally as A, is applied to the roller R of the shade S, which roller is supported in the conventional brackets B carried by the window frame.

The device A includes in its organization a protecting sheath or cover 1 which may be made of any desired material, such for example as the same material of the shade S or fabric or any other material. This sheath is preferably arranged in tubular formation to provide a casing for the portion of the shade wound around the roller R. The ends 0 of the sheath 1 are preferably provided with hem portions 22 which provide tubular guides for receiving suitable rods or strip members 3 which in the illustration shown are preferably strips of metal bent into chanl nel form. These members 3 when arranged within the hem members 22 provide a guideway through which the shade S travels in its adjusting movement as will be apparent I from Figure 2 and for connecting the members 33 the novel retaining clips 4 are provided. These retaining clips are preferably of substantially il-shape formation and include a relatively long leg 5 and a relatively short leg 6 connected by a transverse web 7, the said web 7 being of curved or convex formation so as to avoid the presenting of rough edges to the sides of the shade as it travels up and down. The retaining clips 4 are, of course, adapted to be detachably connected vith the strips 3, and to that end the said strips are preferably provided with the intended leg portions 3a which are adapted to cooperate with suitable openings do in the legs 5 and 6 of the clip. The purpose of mak ing one leg of the clip longer than the other is to facilitate the assembly of the strips 3-3 by the clip. That is to say when the device is applied to the shade on its roller, the clips 4 must necessarily be removed and after the device is applied the clips must be replaced. lVith the leg 5 being longer than the leg 6, it will be apparent that this leg of the clip may be readily inserted in one of the members 8 and as the clip is pushed into the channel shaped guide of the member it will be easy to allow the other member 3 to receive the short leg 6.

The clips l are, of course, readily reversible and interchangeable and when in position securely hold the members 3 within the mem bers 2 in proper spaced relation. Therefore the clips 4 constitute spacing and connecting means for the strips 3 3.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the locking device is rendered operative by the part 3a coming in contact with the part do and is equally effective from either side. In other words, the locking device is, as previously set forth, reversible. The value of this feature is that in the assembly of the shade cover when being installed by the average house wife, maid or janitor, the long arm 3 can be inserted into the hem 2 without regard as to which is front or back, with the same result when the locking clip is fully applied. thereby rendering the installation fool-proof.

From the foregoing it is thought that the manner of applying the present device to a roller shade will be apparent. but it may be pointed out that since the casing or protector 1 is provided at its free ends with locking and spacing means which provide in effect av mouth for the casing. the casing itself may be readily supplied or. the shade roller while the shade itself may freely slide between the members forming the mouth of the casing which not only guide the shade its longitudinal running movement but also prevents sidewise movement we the side edges of he shade will engage the rounded or .ed inner faces of the web 7 of the clip.

As shown in @igure 7. the device A may have one of its hem portions. preferably its outer hem, provided with a fringe 55 which primarily is intended to provide a dust wiper or cleaner for the shade but also makes it possible to enhance the appearance of the shade protector should that course be desired.

It is thought that it will be apparent that the present invention may be readily applied to any roll shade and when in position thereon will form a complete protecting casing therefor which not only keeps the shade clean but also assists the shade considerably in its adjusting movement, thereby to keep the same true with the roller.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will. of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departure from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A protective attachment for roller shades including a tubular body adapted to rest on and surround the portion of a shade wound around the roller, stiffening members carried by the opposite edges of said casing member, and means for connecting said stiffening members.

2. A protective attachment for window shades comprising a tubular casing formed with hem portions at its free edges and the portion of the body between the hems being adapted to rest on and surround the portion of the shade wound on the roller. members mounted in said hems, and means for connectmg the opposlte ends of said members.

3. An attachment for roller shades and the like comprising a bony having hems formed in the edges of the opposite long sides thereof. strip members mounted in said hems, and a U-shaped clip adapted to be adjustably interlocked with. said members to hold them in fixed spaced relation and also serve as a guide to the shade.

4. An attaclunent for roller shades and the like comprising a body having hems formed above edges of its long sides, strip members inserted in said hems. substantially lJ-shaped clips including opposite spaced leg members. one of which is shorter than the other and connected by an inwardly curved web, and co-operating means on the strip members and the legs of the clip for detachably looking said strips to the clip.

5. An attachment for roller shades and the like comprising a body having the edges of its long sides formed with hem portions,

strips inserted in said hem portions and hav ing offset keeper lugs thereon, and means for connecting and spacing said strips comprising a substantially U-shaped clip member having one leg shorter than the other and said legs being provided with openings for receiving the keeper lugs on the strip members.

6. The combination with a flexible shade mounted on a spring roller, of a protecting casing adapted to rest directly on and supported solely by the roller on which the flexible shade is mounted.

7. The combination with a spring roller having a flexible shade thereon, of a floating protecting casing for the shade surrounding and resting on the shade as it is coiled on the roller, and means carried by the casing for engaging the shade to center and hold the casing on the roller.

8. The combination with a roller shade, of a protecting cover supported by and resting on the roller shade only and having means engaging with the shade to hold the same on the roller.

9. An attachment for roller shades comprising the combination with the shade, of a cover unit supported solely by and resting on the shade wound on the roller. and means providing a mouth through which the shade passes and constituting means for holding the attachment on the roller shade.

10. The combination with a spring roller and a flexible shade mounted thereon, of a tubular protecting casing resting on the shade wound around the roller and having depending edge portions mounted at opposite faces of the shade, and means connecting the ends of said depending edge portions to thereby embrace the shade on all sides and whereby the casing is held on the roller.

11. A protective attachment for roller shades comprising, in combination with the shade, a tubular flexible casing resting on the portion of the shade wound around the roller, said casing having an open mouth through which the shade may be guided, and means at the open mouth of the casing for holding the same relatively fixed with reference to the sliding and lateral movement of the shade.

12. A protective attachment for roller shades comprising, in combination with the shade, a tubular flexible casing resting on the portion of the shade wound around the roller, said casing having an open mouth through which the shade may be guided, said casing being folded upon itself at each side of the mouth to provide a tubular portion, and means insertable in said tubular portion for anchoring the casing with reference to the shade.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

DANIEL W. CAUSEY. 

